Ibanez Gibraltar Custom bridge, replacements or refinish?

[Herschel Riffs]

Howdy all, its been a LONGGGG time since I've posted but alas here I am. I currently have an Ibanez XPT700fx with the wonky/cool/ugly Gibraltar Custom bridge that's looking pretty ugly.

At this point I'm looking to either have it refinished in black (recommendations for DIY or any place that is capable of guitar hardware refinishing) or find a bridge that can be used in its place, also ideally in black. I gave up on trying to find a replacement part from Ibanez since that's a dead end.

Anywho, any and all help would be appreciated.


**P.S**
Sorry if this is in the wrong section, its been far too long and I honestly don't remember where I should post this type of query. :cheers:

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Ibanez Gibraltar Custom bridge, replacements or refinish?

Spares for the "Gibraltar Custom" are practically non-existent. It was a cool, but short-lived bridge with a huge sustain block mounted below it.

Your only options are to refinish what you have, find another tune-o-matic style bridge that you can modify to fit (needs similar stud spacing), or get bold and fill the body rout for the sustain block to mount a different bridge altogether.

Most economical method is just to deal with what you have if it's still functioning well.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Ibanez Gibraltar Custom bridge, replacements or refinish?

For those less familiar with this bridge, it's nothing like the other "Gibraltar" bridges out there...

 

[Demanic]

Re: Ibanez Gibraltar Custom bridge, replacements or refinish?

So that's what it looks like underneath.

Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk

 

[ICTGoober]

Re: Ibanez Gibraltar Custom bridge, replacements or refinish?

You can still find sustain blocks on Squeebay or Treeverb, but that bridge is one odd duck.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Ibanez Gibraltar Custom bridge, replacements or refinish?

I have one on my Ibanez V and I like it.

Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Ibanez Gibraltar Custom bridge, replacements or refinish?

You can probably tarnish black or close with an acid fume

But it may unexpectedly do something else

 

[larryguitar]

Re: Ibanez Gibraltar Custom bridge, replacements or refinish?

You can probably tarnish black or close with an acid fume

But it may unexpectedly do something else

I'll just add a fairly 'easy' alternative; there is a product used in gunsmithing call 'Cerakote' that can be applied by blasting the parts with ALOX, spraying the part ('painting' it) and then using heat to fuse it. It's tough and relatively rustproof, and will hide lots of surface imperfections.

Larry

 

[ICTGoober]

Re: Ibanez Gibraltar Custom bridge, replacements or refinish?

Anyone know what material this bridge is made from? Chemistry is your friend.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Ibanez Gibraltar Custom bridge, replacements or refinish?

What in the....
That's a pretty weird bridge. Do you notice anything special about the sound?

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Ibanez Gibraltar Custom bridge, replacements or refinish?

I'll just add a fairly 'easy' alternative; there is a product used in gunsmithing call 'Cerakote' that can be applied by blasting the parts with ALOX, spraying the part ('painting' it) and then using heat to fuse it. It's tough and relatively rustproof, and will hide lots of surface imperfections.

This just reminded me of the instant Bluing stuff you can buy for guns. I've used it to darken and restore various metal parts and touch-up black metal surfaces before. You can get close to black on a lot of metals with a couple applications.

 

[larryguitar]

Re: Ibanez Gibraltar Custom bridge, replacements or refinish?

This just reminded me of the instant Bluing stuff you can buy for guns. I've used it to darken and restore various metal parts and touch-up black metal surfaces before. You can get close to black on a lot of metals with a couple applications.

Yep, although it generally works best on steel or iron; anything else is sort of a crapshoot. Cerakote, because it's sprayed on, can be used on steel, polymer, stainless steel, nearly anything that can stand the abrasive blasting and the baking temperature.

Larry

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Ibanez Gibraltar Custom bridge, replacements or refinish?

Check out Birchwood Casey's "Aluminum Black"

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Ibanez Gibraltar Custom bridge, replacements or refinish?

it appears that if you heat it to cherry red hot then drop it in used Motor oil

it blackens right up

 

[ICTGoober]

Re: Ibanez Gibraltar Custom bridge, replacements or refinish?

it appears that if you heat it to cherry red hot then drop it in used Motor oil

it blackens right up

Unless you know what the metallurgy of the bridge is, and know something about heat treating - DON'T DO THIS. The chemistry involved, and the dangers involved in doing this are NOT to be taken lightly.

 

[larryguitar]

Re: Ibanez Gibraltar Custom bridge, replacements or refinish?

it appears that if you heat it to cherry red hot then drop it in used Motor oil

it blackens right up

Gotta' be sure it's steel before you try that, and you're also risking removing the temper from the parts. They'll (depending on spec's) go full-hard and brittle.


Larry

 

[BaritoneVitoND]

Re: Ibanez Gibraltar Custom bridge, replacements or refinish?

I've also been looking for a replacement Gibraltar bridge for my Ibanez MMM-1 baritone forever with no luck.

 

[LonePhantom]

Re: Ibanez Gibraltar Custom bridge, replacements or refinish?

I wonder if it's built like the Ibanez japanese range of Edge type trems. You may very well be able to polish the parts to a new looking chrome finish with a metal polish like Auto-sol. If it's a cosmo black finish I bet that would work well.